FOBK Press Release: Mr Liew Khooi Cheng
Friends Of Bukit Kiara
February 5, 2017 ·
We wish to announce the demise of Mr Liew Khoo Cheng who is the founding father of the 'Save Bukit Kiara' movement, and co-founder of the FOBK pro-tem committee.
Mr Liew's passing is a sad loss for all of us, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.
Attached is the FOBK press release on the demise of Mr Liew:
FOBK Press Release: Mr Liew Khooi Cheng
With deep sadness the Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK) wish to announce the untimely demise of Mr. Liew Khooi Cheng, father of the Save Bukit Kiara movement and a co-founder of the FOBK pro-tem committee. He passed away peacefully at 8.10pm yesterday (Saturday 4th February 2017). He had been ill for some time and was undergoing treatment at the University Hospital, Petaling Jaya.
The Bukit Kiara green lung which originally covered ~1600 acres, was taken over by the Government in 1980 by Compulsory Acquisition under the National Land Code (NLC) for the purpose of a public park and other key infrastructure, i.e. land usage for public/national interests as prescribed under the NLC. It was covered by old rubber trees with very good access of paved/semi-paved roads. It was the proposed site of Malaysia’s first botanical gardens, for which an international consultant was appointed to prepare a proposal in the late 1970’s. Unfortunately, the current situation is that ca. 75% of that area has been alienated to a number of private recreation clubs leaving for the planned park only a small area surrounded by housing estates (Taman Tun Dr.Ismail, Desa Hartamas) and highways (SPRINT’s Pencala Link and Kerinci Link).
Friends Of Bukit Kiara
February 5, 2017 ·
We wish to announce the demise of Mr Liew Khoo Cheng who is the founding father of the 'Save Bukit Kiara' movement, and co-founder of the FOBK pro-tem committee.
Mr Liew's passing is a sad loss for all of us, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.
Attached is the FOBK press release on the demise of Mr Liew:
FOBK Press Release: Mr Liew Khooi Cheng
With deep sadness the Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK) wish to announce the untimely demise of Mr. Liew Khooi Cheng, father of the Save Bukit Kiara movement and a co-founder of the FOBK pro-tem committee. He passed away peacefully at 8.10pm yesterday (Saturday 4th February 2017). He had been ill for some time and was undergoing treatment at the University Hospital, Petaling Jaya.
The Bukit Kiara green lung which originally covered ~1600 acres, was taken over by the Government in 1980 by Compulsory Acquisition under the National Land Code (NLC) for the purpose of a public park and other key infrastructure, i.e. land usage for public/national interests as prescribed under the NLC. It was covered by old rubber trees with very good access of paved/semi-paved roads. It was the proposed site of Malaysia’s first botanical gardens, for which an international consultant was appointed to prepare a proposal in the late 1970’s. Unfortunately, the current situation is that ca. 75% of that area has been alienated to a number of private recreation clubs leaving for the planned park only a small area surrounded by housing estates (Taman Tun Dr.Ismail, Desa Hartamas) and highways (SPRINT’s Pencala Link and Kerinci Link).
The late Mr. Liew was the original prime mover of the Save Bukit Kiara campaign and was vocal in calling for its gazettement as a green lung and an urban park. It was Mr. Liew who initially raised the issue of threats to the area and called for the formation of FOBK as a registered NGO. In response to the Save Bukit Kiara campaign and other pressure groups, the Federal Cabinet responded in 2007 by announcing that 466.86 acres would be gazetted for the establishment of a Taman Awam Berskala Besar (TABB) i.e. Large-scale Public Park. A decade later, that formal gazettement is still pending.
Bukit Kiara is today very popular among nature lovers, with its jogging/hiking tracks, mountain biking trails, streams, water-cascades and its own unique species of flora and fauna. Each weekend the park sees about 4,000 visitors, comprising both locals and expatriates. In short it is a nature haven for city folk, while its mountain biking trails are considered to be among the best in Asia.
The Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK) or Persatuan Sahabat Rimba Bukit Kiara is today a registered NGO (ROS registration number PPM-003-14-01042014), established to garner support to preserve the sanctity of the Bukit Kiara green lung. It had its Inaugural General Meeting on Saturday 19th April 2014. However, its origins in ca. 2005 as the Save Bukit Kiara campaign owes everything to the late Mr. Liew.
We mourn his untimely demise and give our most heartfelt condolences to his family. We pray for his soul. May his soul rest in peace.
Tan Sri Dr. Salleh Mohd. Nor
President, Friends of Bukit Kiara
5th February 2017
///
No comments:
Post a Comment